State agency National Irrigation Administration (NIA) on Monday, Sept. 3, signed a contract with a Korean company for the construction of an P11.212-billion dam in Iloilo province.
In a ceremony at the NIA’s headquarters, the agency through its Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya signed the contract with representatives from Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd. for the project that was funded by the Korean government through the Korea Exim Bank.
Pilipina P. Bermudez, manager of NIA’s public affairs information staff, in an interview said the Jalaur River multipurpose project is the second undertaking funded by Korean after the launch of small reservoir irrigation project.
She said next to the Jalaur dam, the agency has 10 other dam projects, six of which are described as NIA’s flagship infrastructure projects with costs ranging from P1.35 billion to P22.36 billion.
She said all are being targeted for funding from the Chinese government, possibly with two of them for signing when China’s Prime Minister Xi Jinping visits the Philippines in November.
Separately Mr. Visaya said in an interview that NIA had received interest from the private sector to build a floating solar over the dams owned by the agency. — Victor V. Saulon

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